Press Pack

The information that I included in my press pack I have also chose to include here, including a separate link to my PowerPoint presentation and the A3 sized promotional poster which will also be used the the FYP show in a few weeks time. The poster can be used on a background behind my video and behind my demonstration.

Author Information

Title - Augmented Reality Information Noticeboards

Author – Melannie-Autumn Nurse

Date – 06/06/2012

Email - mel_87@live.co.uk

Blog - http://mnursefinalproject.blogspot.co.uk/

Presentation - Melannie-Autumn Nurse FYP Presentation
Showreel - FYP Showreel

System Requirements

Augment

iOS: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later.

Android: 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3. However some devices may not work because they are not powerful enough.

Images: One of my original images which can be downloaded from the following places:

http://www.4shared.com/photo/WdVhu6Wo/BAHONSmusicdoneARwithlogo.html

http://www.4shared.com/photo/Y57aHnpc/maritimedoneARwithlogo.html

http://www.4shared.com/photo/oqpdwYFp/midwifedoneARwithlogo.html

http://www.4shared.com/photo/6m5K5mi4/musicdoneARwithlogo.html

http://www.4shared.com/photo/OU5la9X5/paramedicdoneARwithlogo.html

http://www.4shared.com/photo/hTbh_YGz/policedoneARwithlogo.html

Future Uses - Application

As I did not get the chance to develop the project enough to turn it into a fully functioning earning application, I created the screens and the application icon I would have wanted it to have. I chose (for the colour scheme) quite a polished, professional look. Using the right fonts to turn the appearance of the app away from any AR application that is around at the moment. As I stated before hand, quite a lot of apps which include AR are generally for fun use. Although they all seem to have a purpose the colour schemes and layout of the application suggests it is more of a gimmick than an app which is created with AR only because it had to be and that was the vision that I had at the beginning of this project.

My Images - Developed!

Below are the series of original images I have created and finished using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Fireworks. Using both applications instead of just one helped me to achieve high quality images and high quality colour with no distortion when reshaping.


I used another Adobe application called 'Bridge' to import my hand drawn images into Fireworks. I used a 'live trace' to help give each line some substance so I was able make the hand drawn layer slightly opaque to start re-drawing with the tools available. After drawing over each line, grouping together certain layers and making each image symmetrical I was then able to edit the image in photoshop which I find easier to add colour to. 

Development

Before starting to plan how best to show the augmented reality information;

•Research apps available to help

•Research ways in which AR is currently being used

After a discussion about using augmented reality, an application was suggested that I had to research. Layar- this application enalbes users to create their own layers on top of real town and city maps. Although the software charges, I was hopping to use the free version which includes 1 layer to make my application. The only problem with this was that the API used to create your own apps was extremely complicated.

I spent over 3 weeks trying to develop the application using this technique. It involved a lengthy process of downloading software and updates ad registering for a certain key (similar to what you have to do when creating google maps API with php/javascript etc.)

It proved far more complicated than I had hoped so I moved on to other pieces of software available which would best showcase my idea and what I wanted the final product to look like.

 

Wikitude World Browser - Wikitude GmbH

My Augmented Reality - Mobikats LTD

Junaio Augmented Reality - Metaio GmbH

Most of these apps mentioned above didn't really assist me in being able to create my own Augmented Reality application on android and iPhone platform. 

I found an application which would let me showcase the design for the plymouth university degree interactive information project I have already created. It is called augment and is available on android AND appstore which is exactly how I wanted my application to distribute. I was able to download a set of markers to use which were portable and printable to I could begin to get my Idea working. My information posters were able to be brought to life virtually on almost any surface, I was also able to resize each design which was perfect when it came to allowing the information to appear visible and readable.

Sketching My Ideas

After spending time looking at the iPod commercial adverts and making noted on the certain aspects of each design that I liked, I started hand-drawing my designs into a sketchpad.

I like to hand draw everything I design first, some people like to work straight onto a computer or even use a graphics pad but the most useful way I have found is by hand drawing each image first so I am able to see it real sized and make any changes I need to before putting it into software to make it more digital.

Below are 4 images I have created using a few of Apple's techniques! I have created each character to be quite plain and simple, only the gender of each character is noticeable through the designs (this is an important decision as when I came to creating an image for nurses, I found using a female worked better than using a male). The characters hair, eye, skin colour is completely un-notiebale because it doesn't relate to what I am trying to achieve. If it had, I would have chosen more detailed images.

Images Research

Before creating the images I carried out some web research to find out what types of images worked best for creating humorous stereotypes.


I came across an old Apple iPod advertisements which I found interesting (see below).

They have clearly chosen to use silhouettes of people who, although do not have distinct feature, you are still able to view them as being young adults. By the way they have modelled the images and the types of clothes you can guess they are wearing enforces the stereotype of younger people.

This has encouraged me to develop a series of images stereotyping certain degrees within the University. With the end product showcasing interesting degrees which some people may not associate under a certain subject area. I am hoping that these images along with the information will help to encourage people to enrol and also to show them a future with job opportunities featuring as a key part of the subject description.

Why outside of the University Buildings?

Outdoor advertising seems to be hugely popular and growing within the UK. Although I am trying to steer clear of advertising through my information notices, it is still beneficial to me to have researched outdoor advertising to see if I would reach a target market or whether it would be better to show my ideas inside of buildings rather than outside.